Cov-19 Staying Connected

Visiting Information, Calling a Patient & Staying Connected

As a means to help minimize the spread of COVID-19, we have temporarily changed our visitation policy at St. Mary’s and Clearwater Valley Hospitals and emergency rooms in Cottonwood and Orofino. Limiting visitors helps us reduce the risk of infection. People, who have signs and symptoms of illness, including fever, cough or shortness of breath, are asked not to visit patients. We’re reminding everyone to practice excellent infection control by covering your mouth when you cough, washing your hands and using hand sanitizer frequently. The new temporary policy is effective immediately.

As of right now, our policy is for NO visitors EXCEPT in the following circumstances:

Obstetric patients may have one partner and one birth support person accompany them.

No children under the age of 16

Patients who are under the age of 18

May have one visitor, or parents or guardians

For the Nursery:

Birth parent plus one significant other

Patients who are at the end-of-life

May have 2 visitors

We reserve the right to deny access to ANY visitor that appears unhealthy, is displaying symptoms of sickness or is running a fever.

As situations arise or evolve, this guideline may be adjusted.

Thank you for sharing this information to help promote community health.

Options For Contacting A Patient

Calling A Patient

For a visitor calling to reach an inpatient at St. Mary’s and Clearwater Valley Hospitals, please call the main hospital operator at 208-476-4555 in Orofino and 208-962-3251 in Cottonwood, provide the patient’s first and last name and ask to be connected to the patient’s room. If the patient in question has not opted out of the hospital directory as a privacy preference, the operator will be able to connect the caller.

Reminder: Patients can use their hospital bedside phone to visit with loved ones if they don’t have access to a smartphone, tablet or laptop.

Stay Connected: Tips for virtual visitation

For everybody’s safety during the COVID-19 response, St. Mary’s and Clearwater Valley Hospitals and Clinics have taken the responsible step to limit visitors to our hospitals. Meanwhile, we appreciate that staying connected to loved ones can have a positive impact on a patient’s health and well-being. And it’s important for family and friends to stay in touch and aware of a patient’s status throughout their care. Thanks to today’s internet and social media tools, virtual communication is easier than ever.

Free Tools & Apps

Consider using some of the following tools and apps on your personal smartphone, tablet or other device.
(Data charges may apply if you’re not using our free Wi-Fi.)

Email

Texts

Applications downloaded from the App Store (Apple) or Play Store (Android).

Free Wi-Fi

Our patients and visitors can connect to our free Guest Wi-Fi while visiting our facilities. To connect, look under available Wi-Fi networks on your device, and select “guestwifi”. The username and password is “guest” for both (without quotes).

Directions For Connecting To A Patient

Step 1

Connect to our free Wi-Fi

Step 2

Select Your App

Step 3

Video Chat, Call Or Text Your Loved Ones

If you plan to use the camera/video feature with the app you’ve chosen (look below for options), make sure you’re
connected to the internet.

Face-to-face Apps:

Choose from the below options for your smartphone/devices (requires a camera on both devices)

Facetime

Facetime is available for Apple devices only.

In your device’s contact list, select the person and then select the video icon at the top of the contact screen. OR: Open FaceTime and select the “+” (plus) button, start typing the person’s name and select it when it appears.

If you do not have the person’s information stored in your contacts, in FaceTime, select the “+” (plus) button and type in their phone number or email address, hit “return” and you’ll be ready.

Once the contact appears in the “To” field, tap the phone icon to make a voice call or the camera icon to video chat.

Zoom

Free accounts available, works on Apple, Android and computers.

Open your Zoom app on your desktop and click Sign In.

Log in using the E-mail and password that you have created, or with Google(Gmail), Facebook, or Login with SSO.

Click the downward arrow and select Start with video, then click New Meeting to start an instant meeting.

Click +Invite and E-mail meeting link to the person you want to meet with.

Video, Voice Or Text Options:

Connect with video, voice or text via the internet or on a device through any of the options below.

Google Duo

Go to: duo.google.com
For Android devices:

Select “search contacts or dial.”

If you have the person saved in your contacts, begin to type their name and select it when it appears.

If you do not have the person’s information stored in your contacts, type in their phone number or email address, then select them.

You can then select from the options to make a voice call, video chat or message them.

If you see the option to “invite,” it means the other person does not have Google Duo installed on their device and they may not be able to connect with you.